A-League champion Alex Brosque calls for finals to be scrapped

«Maybe the fact that we have a cup competition now, maybe it is time eventually to look at scraping these semi finals and final,» Brosque said. «It happened to us last year, we won the league by 14 points and weren’t seen as champions and Perth were incredible this year but aren’t seen as champions. While it’s sweet for us, it’s great and we’ll enjoy it no doubt, [but] I don’t know, I think it’s something to look to in the future.»

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Sunday night’s grand final at Optus Stadium was the final chapter in Brosque’s 17-year career. In his pre-game talk, Sydney coach Steve Corica used Brosque’s retirement as motivation to win the grand final, urging his players to send their captain off as a champion in his final outing. In the week leading into the game, Brosque’s former coaches and teammates spoke at great length of his selflessness. The former Socceroo used his final post-game interview to encourage administrators to think of adapting the league towards what he believes is a fairer system.

«It is Australian football, it is what it is… I get why they do it but I don’t know, I don’t think we need to follow your MLSs and your NBAs — we’re football,» Brosque said. «All around the world the best teams win the league and they’re seen as the best team.

«Again, this is not going to bring any justice to Perth nor us last year. We’ll enjoy it as much as Melbourne did last year but I think it’s something to look to in the future.

«We do have a cup competition now which is knockout and whoever shows up on the day wins and I don’t think we need two.»

While the celebrations were still sweet for Brosque on Sunday night, he felt it patched over their disappointment of last season where they won the regular season comfortably but were knocked-out in the semi-final by Melbourne Victory.

Fond farewell: Alex Brosque with his family after Sydney FC won the A-League grand final on Sunday night.Credit:AAP

«Last year when we won the premiership by as many points as we did, we didn’t get the chance … we had one off night and we didn’t get the chance to defend it so it’s more for that side,» Brosque said. «We were written off at various stages throughout the year, we always had the belief we could do it and win the championship.»